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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lou Weed who wrote (87228)	3/28/2003 10:32:45 AM
From: JustTradeEm	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Michael, thanks for the articles ..... They represent a good cover of some of the history behind today's world. Just an FYI ... you won't ever find me saying that the U.S. does not make its mistakes ... I don't believe this to be one from a moral point of view. You won't ever find me saying that we've not done our share of immoral deeds either .... again, I don't believe this to be one. If the U.S. ever gasses its' citizens; I'd be the first to do something about it too. Thanks again, I do my research, I love to read so I enjoyed them. Oh, you're right .... it's easy for me to sit here and do research ... just as easy as pontificating about morality from a comfy chair in Princeton. The author should still go sell it to the mothers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Then, I may just buy it ! JB

To: Lou Weed who wrote (87228)	3/28/2003 1:39:47 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

The Commerce Department, which is part of the Executive Branch, has the duty to approve exports. It is well documented that the Commerce Department approved the export of dual use chemicals (as the article states, capable of being used as feedstocks for the production of chemical weapons, or for the production of items which are not peaceful weapons). It is also well documented that the Commerce Department approved the export of biololical samples by private companies and US universities intended by the providers to be used for legitimate research to Iraqi universities, which misrepresented themselves. The Iraqi regime did not get clearance from the White House. It did not need clearance from the White House. There was at the time no prohibition that these items be exported to Iraq. Clearance was given at the agency level, by agency functionaries. There is not, and never has been, documentation that either the Reagan administration, nor the Bush administration, nor any other US administration provided the Iraqi regime with actual chemical weapons or actual biological weapons. Indeed, members, and former members, of the Iraqi regime have been rather proud of the fact that they developed these technologies on their own. Compare what I wrote with what Dobbs wrote and see if we differ on anything. The headline says we sold them chemical arms, but the body of the text does not say that. I need to save this post although I've got to the point that I can type it in my sleep, just to save time.

To: Lou Weed who wrote (87228)	3/28/2003 3:15:02 PM
From: paul_philp	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

You're opening yourself up to some major backlash with this statement.......maybe you should stay behind your desk and do a little more research!! One might want to follow one's own advice before being snappy. Top 10 Lists: Top Ten Myths About the War in Iraq strategypage.com 4-The United States armed Saddam. This one grew over time, but when Iraq was on it's weapons spending spree from 1972 (when its oil revenue quadrupled) to 1990, the purchases were quite public and listed over $40 billion worth of arms sales. Russia was the largest supplier, with $25 billion. The US was the smallest, with $200,000. A similar myth, that the U.S. provided Iraq with chemical and biological weapons is equally off base. Iraq requested Anthrax samples from the US government, as do nations the world over, for the purpose of developing animal and human vaccines for local versions of Anthrax. Nerve gas doesn't require technical help, it's a variant of common insecticides. European nations sold Iraq the equipment to make poison gas.